Approximately 80% of currently used antibiotics were first discovered from Streptomyces. In addition, many pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, are halogenated. In particular about a quarter of the top-selling pharmaceuticals are fluorine-containing compounds. The overall objective of my doctoral thesis is to elucidate the complete biosynthetic pathway of the fluorinated antibiotic, nucleocidin, in Streptomyces. Elucidating the biosynthesis […]

Cura Therapeutics is developing innovative immunotherapies to cure solid malignancies and infectious diseases. Cura Therapeutics immunotherapy platform simultaneously activates the immune response against cancer while disrupting the tumor blood supply. These immunotherapies also induce an immunological memory that prevent cancer recurrence. Currently, there are no treatments on the market or in clinical trials that combine […]

Under the conditions of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, most individuals are experiencing a major shift in daily routines. For some, having a flexible work schedule may be beneficial to their natural bodily rhythms. For others, the lack of structure that was previously provided by an external schedule may impose misalignment on behavioural circadian […]

Atlantic Canada has the highest rate of CRC in Canada and NL has the highest incidence of familial CRC worldwide. This study is being undertaken primarily to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the high rate of CRC in Atlantic Canada, particularly the well-documented familial CRC in NL. We expect to define novel genetic […]

The position of Zoonotics Officer will help in managing the care of wildlife patients and ambassadors at the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre and lead the Wildlife Haven Hospital team in zoonotic compliance and protocol development. I will be in charge of any Zoonotic diseases on site, and enforce protocols ensuring the safety of staff/volunteers and […]

The forWater Network, funded by the federal government as well as industry partners and provincial governments, is a national research network looking into the impacts of forest-management strategies on drinking-water source quality and treatability. forWater Network researchers at Dalhousie University (including Duinker, the supervisor in this application) are working with Halifax Water and Westfor Management […]

Although COVID-19 is considered a respiratory illness, the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been found in the feces of people infected with the virus. It is known that the virus survives longer in the gastrointestinal tract than in the respiratory tract. As such, wastewater has been used to determine the […]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a debilitating disease that causes weakness in muscles the move the body as well as the diaphragm. This disease results in severe immobility and can make it difficult to breathe. Strong anti-inflammatories are often prescribed to patients, but the side effects and limited effectiveness underscores the need for developing additional therapies. […]

Noise from human activities negatively affects the well-being of humans and wildlife alike. In rural areas, ecosystems that are relatively undisturbed by human activities may still be subjected to noise exposure from vehicles passing nearby, industry-related noise (e.g., compressor stations), or from airplanes overhead. To date, however, little work has been done to quantify what […]

My proposed Mitacs-funded research will study health and disease in the medieval (11th-15th centuries AD) population from St. Peter’s Monastery in Osor, Croatia through a study of disease patterns, biochemical analysis of diet, and mortality trends. I will use syndemic theory to frame my research, which maintains that diseases and health conditions can interact with […]

Throughout Western North America with few exceptions all species of Pacific Salmon stocks have been in steady decline for over 50 years. On the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Chinook salmon stocks are of particular concern. These fish provide ecological, cultural and economic value to the region and current numbers are at an all-time low. […]

This MITACs proposal seeks funding to establish an internship cluster dedicated to researching novel psychedelic compounds for the purposes of treating clients suffering from PTSD and anxiety using its comprehensive psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy treatment model. The objective of this one-year project is to characterize the chemical composition of psychedelic mushrooms, optimizing extraction process, testing extracts and […]